Bill allows savings without penalty for Alabama persons with disabilities BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - July 30, 2015 - On Tuesday, June 30, Katherine Barr joined Governor Bentley and other key advocates at a ceremonial signing for Alabama's implementation of the Achieving A Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. President Obama signed federal legislation in December 2014 authorizing states to establish savings accounts... Full story »

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – July 29, 2015 – George M. "Jack" Neal, Jr. and Barry A. Ragsdale, both shareholders at Sirote & Permutt, recently received the 2015 President's Award at the Alabama State Bar annual meeting. Neal and Ragsdale were among several attorneys and judges chosen by Alabama State Bar (ASB) president Rich Raleigh. The President's Award is presented each year... Full story »

We have written a lot about consumer complaints lately. Of course, the CFPB has written a lot about consumer complaints lately. Put simply, consumer complaints are a big deal for the CFPB. Full story »

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Sirote & Permutt, P.C., in collaboration with the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA), is pleased to present a series of continuing professional education (CPE) seminars about key legal issues in accounting, beginning July 30 and continuing through September. "As a leader on many tax and estate planning issues, Sirote brings a wealth of knowledge to... Full story »

SMH means "Shaking My Head": in this instance, in disbelief. The ABA Journal recently wrote about a lawyer in Louisiana who was disbarred as the result of her engagement in a social media campaign to contact 2 judges "she accused of being unwilling to consider the evidence in two custody cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse." Full story »

Last month, the CFPB ordered Guarantee Mortgage Corporation, a small California mortgage bank, to pay $228,000 in civil penalties. Guarantee Mortgage, which is no longer in business, allegedly violated the Loan Origination Compensation Rule by paying branch managers based on loan interest rates. Full story »

In this week's Alabama Law Weekly Update, we discuss a recent decision of the Alabama Supreme court enforcing an arbitration agreement where a group of customers disputed ever even receiving notice of the agreement. Full story »

In U.S. v. Canale, DC NY, 115 AFTR 2d ¶2015-851, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York decided that an indictment charging a defendant with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to commit substantive tax offenses was not time-barred under the applicable six-year statute of limitations because overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy occurred within the six year timeframe. Full story »

It has been a busy few weeks for the U.S. Supreme Court with the release of several much-anticipated decisions. In today's post, we review an under-the-radar, but extremely important, opinion— Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. Full story »

In the Summer 2015 issue of Saving Land, Tim Lindstrom addressed the use of partnerships, LLC's and syndications in connection with easement donations. We agree with much of what Tim said, but we have a concern that his comments may be construed in an overbroad manner and perceived as an attack on all transactions that involve partnerships and syndications. Full story »

President Obama, in an Op-Ed column in the Huffington Post, is proposing to raise the existing $23,660 threshold for which eligible employees are automatically entitled to overtime to $50,440. Full story »

On May 13, 2015, Judge Michael G. Williamson, writing for the Middle District of Florida, issued a consolidated opinion of two bankruptcy cases: In re Metzler and In re Patel (8:12-bk-16792-MGW & 8:13-bk-09736-MGW). Full story »

Yelp better watch out, there is a new competitor in the business—the CFPB. Earlier this year, the CFPB released a Policy Statement outlining its plan to publish consumer complaint narratives in its consumer complaint database. Full story »

Last week, I blogged that SCOTUS, in a 5-4 decision, held that Same Sex Marriage (SSM) is a right protected by the United States Constitution, SSM must be allowed in all 50 states and SSM performed in any state must be recognized in all 50 states. So, what does that mean for employers in Alabama? Full story »

The Affordable Care Act ("ACA") included various insurance market reforms that apply to health insurance plans. An excise tax is imposed on any "group health plan" that fails to meet certain market reform requirements, such as, for example, rules related to pre-existing condition exclusions. Full story »